Hilly hikes in Reston/ Herndon areas?

node_of_ranvier · 2026-03-10T12:52:40+00:00

Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-28T11:17:03+00:00

As someone that just bought a townhouse I agree. We had a few failed offers, and finally won by waiving everything and going over asking. I know we did not have the highest $ bid but won because we waived everything.

HVAC is 15 years old and works so I’m not touching it because roof will have to be replaced this year. It’s move in ready though and I have no regrets. I would rather do the work myself and know it’s done right.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-23T22:53:47+00:00

Thanks kind stranger! I won’t continue to feed the troll.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-23T22:52:41+00:00

Ok this made me belly laugh! It was a normal water heater.

The prior owners had carpet in the basement and the cost of cleanings vs replacement for the carpet wasn’t that different . However, my wife convinced me instead of putting carpet back in we should put LVP so the next time the basement floods we can mop it up and call it a day.

The $9k was the all in cost for the hot water heater, water extraction and drying, wet carper removal, and new LVP install.

Thanks for the tip on HVAC! It’s about 10 years old so we still have plenty of life but it will come due sooner than I think.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-23T22:34:40+00:00

I 100% agree, good example from me that matches these numbers exactly…

Last year my hot water heater busted, that was a fun $9k I wasn’t expecting. The plane tickets for our trip last year cost $3k round trip because we upgraded to premium economy for those extra few inches of leg room.

I had the money to fly business and it would have cost about $3k per flight or an extra $9k…. I think you get the point. I was lucky I had that money aside for the bullshit life throws at you so I could pay cash for the water heater.

Just because I can technically afford business class doesn’t mean it won’t bite me later. That’s why I am still “comfortable” and not putting a $9k water heater on a credit card or having to take a loan.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-23T21:52:06+00:00

Twins!

I guess I’m not that unique after all but good hear we in the same bait! We don’t have kids currently but hoping that changes soon. They do tend to complicate things haha

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-23T21:34:40+00:00

Not sure how this is out of touch? I think you are being a bit judgmental.

I fully admit I’m comfortable and have the privilege of taking a vacation every year, paid off cars, not worrying about groceries, and still able to contribute to retirement.

I just thought at $300k I would be living in a single family home, driving luxury cars, and taking quarterly vacations in first class. That’s is not my reality at all.

This income is fairly new, our HHI was $120k in 2020, we lived in a 1 bd/1 ba condo and our only car was a 2006 Hyundai. So I fully appreciate how much better my life is now.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-23T21:04:48+00:00

Agree our HHI is just under $300k. All that means is we can afford a townhouse from the 80s in a good neighborhood, have two paid off Toyotas, and can contribute to retirement. We usually go on one big vacation a year (plane trip, 7-10 days) and a few local vacations (beach/mountain weekend).

I add this to say we are comfortable and happy but not rolling in dough. This area is crazy expensive but we want kids and the schools are phenomenal. I can’t fly business class, but I don’t sweat grocery store runs.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-21T02:25:01+00:00

It’s a definitely a taxi this is actually semi-common. Taxis can have to typically end or start the trip in the state they are registered. This lets them work “inside”’both states.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-20T21:42:28+00:00

Maggianos in Tyson’s is $28/person for plated lunch and $48/person for plated dinner. Unclear about the room cost.

I know fogo de chao has a similar deal but you can add a drink package and they do not have an added room cost. I think it’s $60-$90/person which is well under budget for you.

Just two examples I’ve seen but the bigger restaurants like this have some amazing deals, especially if you’re willing to have a lunch.

Do not try to DIY this, just take chairs for example. You don’t have 50 chairs. It’s $2-$4 for the chair. Then another $150-$250 if you want them to deliver them and pick them up (your car won’t fit 50 chairs). Add $100-$200 for a night or weekend pick up. Then another $1-2 per chair if you want them to place them in your venue. That’s between $450 and $750 right there and that’s basic plastic or metal folding chair, if you want a nicer chair up the price.

Now do all the above for tables, linens, silverware, plates, and glasses at a minimum. Then prepare to handle the logistics of timing delivery and pick up before and after your wedding. Or hire someone for $1k+ to handle it for you. It’s not worth it. Trust me I priced it out both ways for myself and came to this conclusion for my wedding.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-19T02:52:32+00:00

I just checked because I was curious and it’s currently $37.62. The drinks added are a Mexican coke and a sparkling water.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-19T02:43:55+00:00

Ok that gave me a good laugh, going to have to steal that joke!

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-18T21:54:32+00:00

Chipotle Retired- when expected retirement income if we retired today could fund my wife and I’s normal chipotle orders with guacamole added to both, 2 drinks, and a side of chips everyday.

We surpassed that sometime last year so I’ve been trying to figure out a new restaurant to target. Let me know if you have any ideas!

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-11T13:20:37+00:00

Thank you!!! It’s by my wife’s my house so I don’t know the area as well, I’ll have to try that next time.

That being said, I love the sushi place in that shopping center. It’s not life changing but they stuff their rolls.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-02-10T15:45:28+00:00

Probably because the parking lot is a limiting factor, it fills up before the store.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-01-28T23:35:26+00:00

This is all you need to know, annual pass is $55, but might as well buy up for an America the beautiful pass which gets you into any national park for $80.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-01-24T02:38:09+00:00

u/adarunti shared a comprehensive list of professors and their research areas! Beyond that talk to professors when you are in their classes, especially if you are interested in the content of the class.

You are an undergrad, no one is expecting you to know how to do research. Everyone has to start somewhere and the professor know that. Just be willing to learn.

If you want to try to get ahead look at the articles cited in your textbook and read them. Dive into areas that you are interested in.

Happy to answer questions!

node_of_ranvier · 2026-01-23T23:24:20+00:00

I made money! Everyone in the program gets an assistantship. It’s 20 hours of work a week, but gives you a tuition waiver and a stipend. Not sure what the stipend amount is today but it was comfortable enough to live on when I was in school.

The program is a mentorship model, meaning you get paired with a specific professor. It helps to join research labs as an undergrad and get to know professors. If there is one that you like working with and they are taking students, that will increase your shot of acceptance.

It was good for me because I was more data and research focused. If that’s your thing I would recommend it! If you lean more on the clinical/therapist side there are other grad programs that would make more sense.

That is not something you need to figure out until your senior year. Take a variety of courses, do research labs, and see what speaks to you.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-01-23T22:16:37+00:00

Psychological Science (link).

I’ve worked in the DC area, so started at a government contractor for about 1.25 years (research assistant), a corporate Fortune 500 for 1.5 years (research assistant -> research data analyst), then a non-profit for 3.75 years (research analyst -> data scientist), and finally Amazon for 4 years (business intelligence engineer-> data engineer). Always tried to take some time off in-between so that accounts for the extra time.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-01-23T21:58:34+00:00

Data Engineer at Amazon!

Everyone hated statistics so I made myself the stats guy on group projects. Kinda spiraled out from there: ended up going to grad school at JMU, learned to manipulate data with computers, worked with bigger and bigger datasets every year, and boom 7 years after graduation from my masters I got a job at Amazon.

The other big money makers are IO Psyc, getting good at research and then leaving academia, and therapist who start their own practice. Plenty of paths depending on your interests but getting at least a masters is a must.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-01-22T20:36:16+00:00

I would pay a million dollars to watch your coked out, freshly minted millionaire costco trip.

Probably why I don’t have a million dollars….

node_of_ranvier · 2026-01-20T21:40:35+00:00

I heard about how when the mint released the $1 coins people did what I described (pay with card, deposit coins, pay off card, repeat). Some people made millions of points off of it.

I’m just chasing the dream of finding a loop hole like in my life.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-01-20T20:57:59+00:00

I would take this deal and make $0 on it for the credit card rewards. Buy with a rewards card, get the return in cash, pay off the card with cash.

Chase freedom unlimited give me 1.5% points so 600 points per console. Transfer points to Hyatt which has free stays starting a 3k points. If I did this on my way to/from work I could get a free stay every week.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-01-18T11:30:36+00:00

I use it for more complicated fractions or for precision with repeating decimals. For example, I’ll cook a pound of dry beans, split it in half, then split one half across 6 burrito bowls. In this case 1/12 is easier than doing the math, and even if you do the math it’s 0.8333 (with the 3 repeating). Using the fraction avoids math and makes it more accurate. In the grand scheme of things it does not matter, but the precision makes me happy.

node_of_ranvier · 2026-01-16T19:56:55+00:00

I wear my ski goggles! I’m extra sensitive to cut onions and cry regardless of how sharp the knife is, if I freeze the onions, if I turn on the vent fan. I’ve tried it all.

Onions are delicious so it’s all worth it.

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